“I talked to her a few days ago,” he said. “She should be home today, shouldn’t she?”

Caren smirked as if this only reaffirmed her suspicions.

“Have you talked to her?”

“I got an email,” said Caren. “They extended their trip a few days. Something about an art expert.”

“Did she tell you she was chased by some woman down through the streets of Paris?”

“What?” Caren’s voice rose. “She did not.” He’d wanted a to-go cup, but she poured his coffee into a porcelain mug and placed the warmed croissant on a matching plate. After sliding both across the counter, she leaned on the glass display. “Does Audrey know this?”

“I don’t know,” he said. “I told Lara to call the police. She’s got a valuable painting. Someone could be trying to steal it or kidnap her to get it. If you talk to her before I do, make sure she calls the police.” He took a sip and was pleasantly surprised that it was a fresh pot—something that usually didn’t happen in the afternoon. He carried the mug over to the nearest seating area.

Caren came around with the warm croissant on a plate. “I worry about her.” She leaned on the back of a low leather chair. “I’ve seen that painting hanging across the hall from the guest bathroom all my life. Who would have thought it was valuable.”

“So it was the across-from-the-guest-bathroom painting?”

“Exactly,” said Caren, laughing. “Usually it’s some Parisian champagne advertisement poster or dogs playing poker. It’s the most disrespected wall space in any home.”

Ben laughed. “And Audrey gave the painting to Lara?”

“Yeah,” said Caren, folding her arms. “Lara wasn’t really a fan of it. The thought that it might be valuable was a real shock to her.” She paused.

“You look like you want to ask me something?” He took a bite of the almond croissant, realizing he’d never had one before. The flowery, vanilla taste of the center was a surprise.

“Is it that obvious?” she hesitated.

He was wondering if she was going to ask him his intentions toward her best friend. “What do you think really happened to Todd?” Caren looked down, her long spiral curls bouncing anytime her head moved.

He was uncomfortable with this question. Michelle Hixson had asked the same thing, and he hadn’t had a good answer then. In the interest of the case, he couldn’t get into the specifics with Caren any more than he could with the reporter—especially not Caren, who out of friendship would feel some obligation to tell Lara whether advertently or inadvertently. Carefully, he weighed his response. “What I can say is that I don’t think Todd abandoned Lara.”

She actually looked relieved at his answer. “There are just so many theories out there—some of them crazy. I heard there is a coven.”